From the TOC facebook page

"Based on the feedback of racers, we're keeping the stage race format for 2012 and for the foreseeable future. 2012 will be very similar to 2011 with the long TT and Sat/Sun road races."

Sweet!

Registration opens tonight at 7pm

"Virtually identical stages"

https://www.bikereg.com/Net/15509

It is says: no refund policy. do any of you know if spots are transferable on the other hand?

He said he'd transfer my fee to next year or another of his races when I almost didn't race due to illness, last year. Not sure if that's an official "policy" though. Wouldn't count on it without confirmation from him.

ok good to know. not all is lost then...

site says that spots are NOT transferable

boo when does registration usually fill up for this race?

Aly- not really. The past two years I've registered a couple of weeks in advance and was fine. They'll have two Cat 4 fields as well most likely so plenty of spots


Any Cat 3's thinking of doing Catskills this year? Last year it was Joe & myself, would be cool to have some more teammates out there

W

cool. hope ur not freezing ur butt out there still...

This is a race I'll probably not get to do until my friends stop getting married. Seems like a popular weekend for weddings. Out this year.

You have friends that don't ride bikes? Weird...

hah, sometimes i wished all my friends rode bikes.

Hi Guys- time to start this thread I suppose. Accommodation, racing, team chat about Catskills 2012.

Christian and I are heading up to ride stage 3 of the Catskills race this Sunday after the PP race. We are looking for one (or two if we can borrow a bike rack) others to help split fuel and make it more enjoyable. Anyone keen?

I think our basic plan is to head up straight from PP, do the third stage, then make our way to the bottom of Devil's Kitchen for a run at that before heading back.

I've been up a couple of times recently and it's not a particularly long drive or challenging so there will be plenty of time to fit all this in and hopefully get back to NYC at a reasonable hour. Even those not planning on doing the race, this is a pretty awesome place to cycle.

So I rode up Devils Kitchen today while visiting some family. I just want to complain out loud to people who can empathize. 185lbs sprinters have no business trying to make it up this, let alone in a 39x25. I almost toppled over a few times. Meanest climb I have ever ridden in my life.

@Mattie true that.  More horrific is the next day.  Much, much harder if you can believe it.  We were fools to focus our fear on the Kitchen, FOOLS.....

Fools indeed.  I have never felt as surprised in a race as I did last year.  It'd be like thinking Battenkill ended at the second water stop. OOOOhhhh no. This year more the wiser.  

So I rode up Devils Kitchen today while visiting some family. I just want to complain out loud to people who can empathize. 185lbs sprinters have no business trying to make it up this, let alone in a 39x25. I almost toppled over a few times. Meanest climb I have ever ridden in my life.

Word. 39x27 sucks too. Pretty sure the same is true for 39x28. I'll have to get back to you on that one.

Now imagine having to climb DK 2 hours deep into a race. A race, not a muffin run.

What's even more absurd is that the climbs on the next day were collectively much harder. Seriously, much harder.

Just signed up for the 4/5 day races on the Saturday and Sunday.  At $45 per day significantly cheaper than the $175 for the stage race.

We tried to get our crap together enough for a shared place, but the lemons didn't line up.  My family will be staying at the Hotel Mountain Brook where we were last year.  Would love to synch up with the folks who are going for meals & whatnots...

I am also going and I am happy to share a room with someone.

one year, I will not be at a wedding this weekend. And I will go here for the wonderful experience. The hills are basically just rolling, right?

one year, I will not be at a wedding this weekend. And I will go here for the wonderful experience. The hills are basically just rolling, right?

Not even.  It's basically flat.

Skinny cyclists are all liars when it comes to hills. Fact.

Start Times Posted:

http://www.tourofthecatskills.com/the-race/

Is it on NBC Sports Network or do I have to find a pirated feed on Steephill.tv?

Yeah it's on NBC but Phils going to mistakenly call the race the US Pro Challenge. Don't worry he's just getting a little old. 

Loading the van now.  

Yesterday I put my 28-11 cassette on my bike, mated to my standard 53/39 crank.  You know that feeling you have when 75% of you says 'Yeah, this will be fine, it won't be that bad, probably won't need lower gearing'?  But, 25% of your logic says 'Erm, no.  Where's the compact??'.  I had that.

You should be fine Adam. It's still going to hurt though. There's no way to get around that.